On January 21, 2025, following a presentation by the university administration, the UASU Students’ Council formally voiced its disapproval of the ‘First Day Access’ proposal in its current form. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and changes made to the previous version of the Academic Materials program. However, these adjustments have not been sufficient to address students’ concerns.
The consultation process for First Day Access has been inadequate, leaving key voices unheard and several concerns dismissed. While this program has potential, the risks it poses to students outweigh its benefits in its current form. This program also distracts from achieving the university’s goals in SEAP around increasing Open Education Resources and the Zero Textbook Cost program. Given these concerns, we cannot support the program as it stands.
Signed,
Students' Council and GFC
Abdul Abbasi | Students' Council | University of Alberta Students' Union
Lisa Glock | Students' Council, GFC | University of Alberta Students' Union
Layla Alhussainy | Students' Council, GFC | University of Alberta Students' Union
Renson Alva | Students' Council, GFC | University of Alberta Students' Union
Levi Flaman | Students' Council | University of Alberta Students' Union
Owen Pasay | Students' Council | Faculty of Business
Lavanya Jain | Students' Council | Faculty of Science
Nathan Goetz | Students' Council, GFC | Augustana
Mohit Makhija | GFC | Faculty of Business
Manan Upadhyaya | GFC | Faculty of Science
Paige Wall | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation
Katie Tamsett | Students' Council | Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
Denee Reansbury | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Native Studies
Nathan Thiessen | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Arts
Madiha Maroof | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Engineering
Michael Chang | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Engineering
Angelina Botros | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Science
Habba Mahal | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Asha Jama | GFC | Faculty of Nursing
Antony Salib | Students' Council | Faculty of Education
Nathan Perez | GFC | Faculty of Arts
Jillian Aisenstat | GFC | Association des Universitaires de la Faculté Saint-Jean
Precious Majekodunmi | Students' Council | Faculty of Nursing
Angelina Raina | Students' Council, GFC | Faculty of Arts
Logan West | GFC | Faculty of Arts
Pedro Almeida | GFC | Faculty of Science
Zahraa Yassine | Students' Council | Faculty of Science
Lava Najmdeen | GFC | Faculty of Science
Michael Seiffert | GFC | Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
Abdul Hannan Akbar Sandhu | GFC | Faculty of Science
Mikael Schmidtke | GFC | Faculty of Engineering
Hamdan Raashid | GFC | Faculty of Engineering
Abhimanyu Rathour | GFC | Faculty of Science
Ramish Raza | GFC | Faculty of Arts
Adrien Lam | Students' Council, GFC | Board of Governors Representative
Student Representative Associations
Katie Tamsett | President, ALES Undergraduate Association
Jillian Aisenstat | President, Association des Universitaires de la Faculté Saint-Jean
Miron Nekhoroshkov | President, Augustana Students' Association
Jacqueline Cowling | President, Business Students' Association
Jinoo Chong | President, Education Students' Association
Aamir Mohamed | President, Engineering Students' Society
Sophie Martel | President, Indigenous Students' Union
Pedro Almeida | President, Interdepartmental Science Students' Society
Ramish Raza & Abdul Hannan Akbar Sandhu | Co-Presidents, International Students' Association
Erin Higa | President, Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation Student Society
Joshua Kim | President, Law Students' Society
Winnie Bao | President, Medical Students' Association
Nathan Perez | President, Organization for Arts Students and Interdisciplinary Studies